‘Change so much?’

‘I shouldn’t talk about this. I shouldn’t discuss Lady Flidais behind her back.’

‘Well,’ I said briskly, ‘this may be cool enough for you to carry safely now. If you wrap this cloth around it, it should be easier to handle. Lady Flidais should drink a small cupful before breakfast and another at bed time; it can be warmed up to make it more palatable. And if she wants more, she must come to see me herself.’

‘She won’t be happy about that.’

I shrugged. ‘I won’t set aside the rules of my craft because someone’s taken a dislike to me. You may tell her I said that.’ In fact, I could tell her myself, since I would be sitting at the high table for supper tonight. An unwelcome thought came to me. ‘Oh, no,’ I muttered.

‘What is it, Mistress Blackthorn?’ Nuala had picked up the jug and was ready to leave.

‘Nothing. Only . . . I have been asked to sit at the prince’s table tonight; I believe I’m to make conversation with a druid. And it has occurred to me that I have no suitable clothing.’ I would have been quite happy to wear my somewhat tired-looking everyday gown, but since Prince Oran had guests, I should probably try not to embarrass him. Druids, with their robes, had a distinct advantage.

‘You’re so thin,’ Nuala said, looking at me with the critical eye of the lady’s maid she was, ‘you’d be swamped in anything of mine, and Deirdre’s would be too long on you. But you can’t wear that. Oh, I know! Sinead, Lady Sochla’s maid – she’s a slip of a thing. I’ll ask her, shall I?’

‘I’d better ask her myself,’ I said, thinking Nuala had done enough of other folk’s bidding for one day. ‘But if you could mention it to Sinead when you go back, that would smooth the way for me. Thank you. And, Nuala . . .’

‘Mm?’

‘Please come and talk to me any time you want. Sometimes it does help.’

A wan smile. ‘Thank you, Mistress Blackthorn. You are kind.’

Kind? Me? Hah! Still, she seemed a good person, better than I’d been ready to believe earlier. Deserving of a listening ear, at the very least. As for supper and the need to don apparel fitting the guest of a prince, both would try me hard. Especially if the talk turned to Mathuin of Laois. That man cast a long shadow.

31 Grim

31

~GRIM~

Supper time, I’m looking around, trying to spot Blackthorn. Long time since I spoke to her. Can’t see her with the waiting women. I’m thinking maybe she’s been called away to do healer’s work. Then I see her at Prince Oran’s table, sitting down like a fine lady. She’s got a druid on one side and the prince’s auntie on the other.